Flexible form for integral concrete curbs and gutters



Jan. 27, 1953 A. s. WOLF ET AL 2,626,444

FLEXIBLE FORM FOR INTEGRAL CONCRETE CURBS AND GUTTERS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 124 Filed Aug. 26, 1947 INVENTORS flnf/wny 5. Wolf and Carl (1 2195/7Jan. 27, 1953 A. s. WOLF ET AL FLEXIBLE FORM FOR INTEGRAL CONCRETE CURBSAND GUTTERS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Aug. 26, 194'? P Wm NZ mm r g. a

Patented Jan. 27, 1953 FLEXIBLE FORM FOR INTEGRAL CONCRETE CURBS ANDGUTTERS Anthony S. Wolf, Pittsburgh,

and Carl J. Zigan,

Etna, Pa., assignors to Blaw-Knox Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., acorporation of New Jersey Application August 26, 1947, Serial No.770,618

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a form for an integral curb and gutter ofpoured concrete for streets and roads and, in particular, to a flexibleform capable of being bent to various curvatures, for use at streetintersections or on curving roadways. Forms for an integral curb andgutter as known heretofore have usually comprised a flat wall of metalplate defining the inner edge of the gutter slab, a similar but higherwall defining the outer edge of the curb secured in spaced relationthereto and an intermediate wall spaced from the second-mentioned wall,defining the exposed face of the curb. (The terms inner and outer havereference to the center line of the street or road.) The intermediatewall has a rounded lower edge to form a fillet connecting the top of thegutter slab and the exposed face of the curb, and slopes outwardly atthe top. Thus, while the inner and outer walls may be made thin enoughto flex readily to a curved contour, the shape of the intermediate wallprecludes any substantial bending thereof. For this reason it hasgenerally been the practice to provide a plurality of relatively rigid,curved. intermediate walls of the various radii most frequentlyrequired, and select the one which most nearly fits the curvaturedesired at a given location, the outer walls being bent to conform andheld in properly curved condition by stakes driven in the ground.

We have invented a novel form for an integral curb and gutter, having anintermediate wall composed of flat, segmental plates with curved loweredges, disposed end-to-end and pivotally connected for universalmovement whereby it may be fiexed to various curvatures, thuseliminating the necessity for a plurality of rigid, intermediate wallsof different curvatures. In a preferred embodiment, the segmental plateshave eyes adjacent their ends, and a pivot member extends through theeyes of adjacent plates. This member is preferably flexible and-commonto all the plates. Specifically, a length of flexible cable has theplates strung thereon by passing the cable through the eyes. The .platesare maintained in assembled relation by tensioning the cable andsecuring it after they have been set to give the desired curvature.

A complete understanding of the invention may b obtained from thefollowing detailed description and explanation which refer to theaccompanying drawings illustrating a present preferred embodiment. Inthe drawings,

Figure l is a plan view of our bent to a circular curvature;

Figure 2 is a perspective view thereof;

improved form I Figure 3 is an elevation of one of the segmental platesof which the intermediate wall is composed;

Figure 4 is an end view thereof;

Figure 5 is an elevation of one of the dividing plates which maintainthe inner and outer walls of the form in properly spaced relation; and

Figure 6 is an elevation of a so-called false dividing plate serving tospace each segmental plate of the intermediate wall from the outer wallof the form.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the form indicated generally at Illcomprises an inner wall ll, an outer wall l2 and an intermediate wall itcomposed of segmental plates. The inner wall H defines the edge of thegutter slab. The outer wall l2 defines the outer face of the curb. Thewall 13 defines the exposed face of the curb. The walls H and 12 arecomposed of steel plate of suitable width and of a thickness permittingthem to be readily bent to desired curvature after which they may besecured in place by stakes I4 driven through brackets 15 spaced alongthe walls. The walls II and i2 are maintained in properly spacedrelation by division plates IE5 spaced therealong. These plates, asshown in Figure 5, have hooks l'l adapted to fit over the edges of thewalls I I and I2. They also have lugs 18 for a purpose which will appearshortly.

The wall I3 is composed of a, plurality of segmental plates l9 shown inFigures 3 and 4. These plates are fiat for the most part but are curvedat their lower edge as indicated at lQa to form a fillet between thecurb proper and the gutter slab. Each plate has a central, vertical slot29 and eyes 2| at the upper corners thereof. The intermediate wall l3,as stated, is composed of a plurality of the plates 19 disposedend-to-end, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Adjacent plates are pivotedtogether for universal movement relative to each other so that eachplate is self-adjusting when the wall as a whole is bent to any givencurvature. This universal pivotal connection between adjacent plates ispreferably afforded by a length of cable 22. The plates I!) are strungon the cable by passing it through the eyes 2|. One end of the cable isprovided with a terminal clamp 23. An adjustable clamp 24 is secured tothe other end when the cable has been drawn taut.

In order to maintain the wall 13 properly spaced from the wall I2, weemploy a plurality of false division plates 25, one for each of thesegmental plates l9, except those engaged by division plates IG. Asshown in Figure 6, the false division plates are similar to the upperportion of the division plates [6 except that they have a slot 26 forreceiving the outer wall l2. They have a lug l8 similar to the lug I8 ofthe division plates.

As shown in Figure 1, these lugs I8 and I8 extend through the slots ofthe plates I9. The lugs have slots therethrough to accommodate wedges 27which serve removably to secure the plates l9 to the division plates 16and 25.

In using the form of our invention, after bending and securing the wallsI I and I2 as previously described, with the plates 16 extendingtherebetween, the plates I 9 and are then set up loosely and the wedges21 driven tight. The plates 25 are then adjusted to truly radialpositions and the cable 22 is finally tightened and the adjustable clamp24 secured in place. When thus assembled, the plates l9 are in abutmentat their upper corners and are slightly separated at their lowercorners. There is no bending of the individual segmental plates but theuniversal pivotal connection therebetween permits the intermediate walll3 as a whole to be bent to exactly the desired curvature. The segmentalplates remain in abutment at their upper edge regardless of thecurvature since the universal connection therebetween permits them toassume the correct position for all conditions of curvature.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides aform for an integral curb and gutter which is readily flexible not onlyas to the outer and inner walls but also as to the inter mediate wall,while retaining the outward slope of the exposed face of the curb towardthe top and the fillet between the curb proper and the gutter slab. Theinvention thus makes it unnecessary to provide a plurality of rigid,intermediate walls of different curvatures, eliminating the cost of theextra walls and the trouble of handling and transporting them. Ourimproved flexible intermediate wall may be designed so as to conformreadily to the various degrees of curvature encountered in ordinary roadconstruction. It will be apparent, of course, that the center ofcurvature may be on either side of the wall for the pouring of the curbon the outside of a curve in the roadway as well as the inside.

Although we have illustrated and described but a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, it will be recognized that changes in the details ofconstruction may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a removable construction form for a curb or the like including agenerally upright exposed face, a flexible supporting wall bent into thepredetermined shape of said curb or the like, said supporting wallhaving a generally vertical molding surface extending in the directionof said exposed face, a plurality of generally rectangular segmentalplates in end-to-end relationship, said segmental plates having amolding surface conforming to said exposed face, said last mentionedmolding surface being in a substantially directly opposed relation tosaid molding surface of said supporting wall, relatively rigid membersconnecting said segmental plates respectively to said supporting wall ata predetermined distance,

therefrom, and at least one flexible member flexibly and closelyconnecting said segmental plates substantially by their respectivelyadjacent ends in relatively short, chordlike relation to define acontinuous form for said exposed face.

2. In a removable construction form for a curb or the like including agenerally upright exposed face, a flexible outer wall adapted to be bentinto the predetermined shape of said curb or the like, a plurality ofgenerally rectangular segmental plates in end-to-end relationship andsuspended a predetermined distance from said outer wall, a plurality ofplatelike members respectively extending substantially directly betweensaid segmental plates and said outer wall, said platelike members beingconnected to said outer wall, said segmental plates being substantiallyrigidly mounted on saidplatelike members relatively centrally of saidsegmental plates, and a flexible member flexibly connecting saidsegmental plates to one another'substantially by their respectivelyadjacent ends to provide a universal pivotal connection betweenadjoining segmental plates, said flexlble member being so connectedabove the respective connections between said segmental plates and saidplatelike members, whereby when said flexible member is tightened, acontinuous and firmly connected form is provided for said exposed faceof correct curvature, slope and grade.

3. In a removable construction form for a curb Or the like including acurved generally upright exposed face, a flexible supporting wall, aplurality of spaced substantially radial plates connected to saidsupporting wall and extending generally directly toward and normal tothe direction of said exposed face, a plurality of generally rectangularsegmental plates substantially rigidly and respectively connected tosaid radial plates in generally normal relation thereto, said segmentalplates being disposed in end-toend and generally abutting relationshipand having eyes adjacent their respective ends, and a taut flexiblemember extending through said eyes and connecting adjoining segmentalplates end-toend.

4. In a removable construction form for a curb or the like including acurved generally upright exposed face, a flexible supporting wallforming a part of said form. a plurality of spaced substantially radialplates supported by said supporting wall and extending generally normalto the direction of said exposed face, a plurality of segmental platessubstantially rigidly and re spectively supported by said radial platesin generally normal relation thereto and at a predetermined distancefrom said supporting wall, said segmental plates being relativelycentrally supported relative the respective surfaces of each thereof anddisposed in end-to-end relationship to one another, and a taut flexiblegenerally horizontal cable connecting said segmental platessubstantially by their respectively adjacent ends in relatively short,chordlike relation to define a continuous form for said exposed face.

5. In a removable construction form for a curb or the like including acurved generally upright exposed face, a flexible supporting wallforming one part of said form and held flexed to a predeterminedcurvature, a plurality of spaced substantially radial plates supportedby said supporting wall and extending generally normal to the directionof said exposed face, said substantially radial plates and having asubstantial portion of each thereof positioned below the top of saidcurb or the like, a generally radially extending slotted lug projectingfrom each of said substantially radial plates and generally in the planethereof, said lugs being generally equidistant from said supportingwall, said substantially radial plates further having an edge adjacentsaid lug generally conforming in slope to the predetermined slope ofsaid exposed face, a plurality of segmental plates having a faceconforming to said exposed face, each segmental plate being generallystraight between the ends thereof, said segmental plates further havinga slot relatively centrally positioned therein to fit over saidrespective lugs of said radial plates, a plurality of wedges engagingthe respective slots in said lugs to substantially rigidly hold saidrespective segmental plates in end-to-end relation against saidrespective radial plates at the slope defined by said respective edges,eyes on said segmental plates adjacent the respective ends and top ofeach thereof, a flexible member threaded through said eyes of segmentalplates.

6. In a removable construction form for a curb or the like including agenerally upright exposed face, a flexible supporting wall, saidsupporting wall having a generally vertical molding surface extending inthe direction of said exposed face, a plurality of generally rectangularsegmental members in end-to-end relationship, said segmental membershaving a molding surface conforming to said exposed face, saidlast-mentioned molding surface being in a substantially directly opposedrelation to said molding surface of said supporting wall, a plurality ofdivision plates extending substantially normal to and directly betweensaid molding surfaces, said division plates being removably mounted onsaid supporting wall adjacent one end and supporting said segmentalmembers a spaced distance from said one end,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 965,979 Young Aug. 2, 1910968,905 Weber Aug. 30, 1910 1,116,770 Warne Nov. 10, 1914 1,275,313Shriner Aug. 13, 1918 1,601,347 Church Sept. 28, 1926 1,615,178 Moss etal. Jan. 18, 1927 2,260,447 Forbes Oct. 28, 1941

